METHODS OF REPEESSION. 87 



food supplies could be protected merely by having the poison near 

 them. In practical work it was found that the placing of two or tliree 

 saucers containing a Httle of the arsenical solution about a room or 

 under tables bearing honey, meats, etc., would effectually rid the 

 vicinity of ants in from one to three days' time, and, what was more to 

 the point, the ants would not return in numbers so long as the dishes 

 of poison were kept there. 



CONTROL OF THE ANT IN RESIDENCES. 



No one measure will afford satisfactory rehef from this pest and the 

 householder who would fuid permanent immunity from attack must 

 plan a warfare based upon an intelligent appreciation of the facts 

 above set forth. Of utmost and primary importance is cleanHness. 

 By tliis is meant not merely absence of cHrt in the usual sense, but 

 that precautions must be taken not to leave particles of food where 

 the ants can have access to them. Even crumbs of bread or cake 

 left on a Idtchen floor will attract the pests. Above all else fruits, 

 sweets, oils, and meats must be kept where the ants can not reach 

 them. The more abundant the food supply the more abundant will 

 the ants become, and it has been repeatecUy observed that there are 

 many more colonies in residences occupied by sliiftless owTiers than 

 in those occupied by careful housekeepers. 



Foodstuffs can not be isolated from the ants except by the use 

 of repellents such as have been described, particularly ant tape. 

 TMs last should be placed around the legs of all tables, benches, 

 etc., on wliich food suppUes are kept, and the tables must not be 

 allowed to touch the wall or other objects by means of wliich the 

 ants can find access to them. 



The corrosive sublimate tape is, of course, poisonous, and when 

 there are children in the house precautions must be taken that they 

 do not get hold of it. At the same time we have never known of. 

 a case of poisoning resultmg from its use. It is wise, also, to wash 

 the hands well witli soap and warm water after handhng the tape. 



To assist in repelling the ants the sweetened arsenical mixture, 

 described on page 85, contaming one-fourth of 1 per cent of arsenic, 

 should be placed m small dishes or saucers in pantries and beneath 

 tables, refrigerators, etc. 



Along with these repeUmg measures colonies of the ants should 

 be destroyed at every opportunity. Hot water, kerosene, or crude 

 oil can be used for destroying every colony that is accidentally 

 exposed to view by the overturning of leaves, boxes, pieces of wood 

 etc. For this purpose we have found a small compressed-air sprayer, 

 fiUed with kerosene or crude oil and kept in a handy place, very 

 useful. Colonies nesting in the ground can be quickly destroyed 



